Contoured wash mit assembly

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a wash mit assembly comprising a rigid or semi-rigid body, a hose coupling interconnected to the body, and a cloth removably connected to the body. The body includes an exterior surface that is generally concave in shape, a hose receiving recess formed in the exterior surface along its longitudinal axis, a strap extending transversely across the recess, and openings formed through opposing sides of the recess for receiving nozzles of the hose coupling therein. The cloth includes a drawstring stitched about its periphery and is removably connected to the body in complete covering relation to the body&#39;s inwardly facing surface. To connect the cloth to the body, the body is positioned on the cloth, and the drawstring of the cloth is pulled taut so that the edge of the body is encompassed within the edge of the cloth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to cloths used forwashing, dusting, polishing, or waxing items, such as cars, and moreparticularly to wash cloth assemblies that contour both a person's handand the surface of the item being cleaned.

[0002] A cloth or buffer is an essential tool for washing a car by hand.Typically, the cloth is composed of a material that has good water andsoap absorption properties, and is soft enough so as not to scratch thepaint surface of the car, such as sponge or sheep's wool. The personwashing the car will conventionally use a hose to pre-soak the car, andwill then fill a bucket with a car wash soap concentrate and water. Theuser will then soak the cloth in the bucket and proceed to wash the car.Once the car is washed, the user will use the hose to rinse the soap offof the car, and will then dry and wax the car.

[0003] While the above procedure works well, the bucket of soapy waterbecomes dirty after the cloth has been used to scrub the car and thenplaced back into the bucket. The dirt particles then get caught in thecloth, thereby causing them to be scrubbed into the car once again. Inaddition, the dirt particles may scratch the paint on the car's surface.

[0004] Use of a bucket of soapy water to wash a car also requires thatthe user dip his/her hands into the water each time the cloth is soaked.Thus, the user's hands become wet which in cold weather climates can beuncomfortable, and can also cause the user to drop the cloth, therebycausing it to pick up dirt from the ground.

[0005] When cleaning items that may have uneven surfaces, portions ofthe surface are sometimes missed due to the inability of the cloth (orother cleaning implement) to contour around the uneven surface. Thus,some portions of uneven surfaces may not get as clean as the remainingportions of the surface.

[0006] It is therefore a principal object and advantage of the presentinvention to provide a wash mit assembly that straps to and contours aperson's hand, thereby making it easier to handle.

[0007] It is a further object and advantage of the present invention toprovide a wash mit assembly that can contour around uneven surfaces.

[0008] It is another object and advantage of the present invention toprovide a wash mit assembly that may be directly interconnected to awater supply, such as a hose, or a cleaning implement, such as a pole.

[0009] It is yet an additional object and advantage of the presentinvention to provide a wash mit assembly that is durable and easilymanufactured.

[0010] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will inpart be obvious, and in part appear hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, thepresent invention provides a wash mit assembly comprising a rigid orsemi-rigid body and a cloth connected to the body. The body includes anexterior surface that is generally concave in shape, a hose receivingrecess formed in the exterior surface along its longitudinal axis, astrap extending transversely across the recess, and openings formedthrough opposing sides of the recess for receiving nozzles of a hosecoupling therein. The cloth includes a drawstring stitched about itsperiphery and is removably connected to the body in complete coveringrelation to the body's inwardly facing surface (although a cloth that ispermanently affixed to the body could also be used, the removableconnection is preferred due to the versatility it offers the tool). Toconnect the cloth to the body, the body is positioned on the cloth, andthe drawstring of the cloth is pulled taut so that the edge of the bodyis encompassed within the edge of the cloth.

[0012] A hose receiving coupling including an internally threadedportion to which a hose (or other cleaning implement, such as a pole)may be connected and a pair of nozzles extending outwardly from opposingsides of the coupling is connected to the body with the nozzlesextending through the openings formed in opposing sides of the hosereceiving recess. A hose (or other cleaning implement, such as a pole)may be connected to the coupling and positioned within the recess formedin the exterior surface of the body. Soap may be dispensed on the cloth,and when the hose is turned on water will flow through the nozzles ofthe coupling and continuously soak the cloth. A user may place his/herhand through the strap and wash the car by scrubbing it with theassembly. It should be pointed out that the present invention couldcertainly be used to clean items other than cars, but cars are referredto herein for purposes of showing an exemplary use of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The present invention will be more fully understood andappreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the body of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the body;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the body;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the hose coupling of the presentinvention;

[0018]FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the hose coupling;

[0019]FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the hose coupling;

[0020]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the hose coupling take alongline 7-7 of FIG. 5;

[0021]FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the hand strap of the presentinvention;

[0022]FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the hand strap;

[0023]FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the washing cloth;

[0024]FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the washing cloth taken alongline 11-11 of FIG. 10;

[0025]FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the wash mit assembly;

[0026]FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of the wash mit assembly; and

[0027]FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of the wash mit assembly withportions cut away therefrom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsrefer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIGS. 12-15 a wash mitassembly, designated generally by reference numeral 10, generallycomprising a body 12, a cloth 14 connected to body 12, a hose coupling16 for interconnecting a hose 18 to assembly 10, and a strap 20 throughwhich a user's hand 22 may be positioned for holding and using assembly10. Assembly 10 is useful for, among other things, washing, dusting,polishing, waxing, or drying cars or other items. In addition, althoughcoupling 16 is described herein to receive a hose 18, it could also beused to receive any cleaning implement, such as a pole.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1-2, body 12 is seen to include an outwardlyfacing surface 24 that is generally concave in shape. Surface 24includes a hose receiving recess 26 formed therein which extends alongthe longitudinal axis X-X of body 12, a pair of strap receiving openings28, 30 formed through body 12 on opposing sides of recess 26, and a pairof nozzle openings 32, 34 formed through opposing sides of recess 26 andalong an axis Y-Y that is transverse to axis X-X.

[0030] Body 12 is preferably composed of a rigid or semi-rigid material,such as plastic, and is generally divided into four sections; two sides36, 38, and front 40 and rear 42 sections. Notches 44, 46, 48, and 50formed in the edges of body 12 roughly define the divisions between thesections, and permit assembly 10 to flex and adapt to and contour aperson's hand, and permit cloth 14 to contour an uneven surface overwhich it may be wiped. Surface 24 slopes downwardly from about itsgeometric center (i.e., the intersection of axis X-X and axis Y-Y)towards the edges of sections 36, 38, 40, and 42, thereby defining itsconcave shape. Finger (thumb) grips 52, 54 are formed in surface 24 ofside sections 36, 38, respectively.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 3, body 12 includes an inwardly facing surface56 that is generally convex in shape. Inwardly facing surface 56includes sets of opposing ribs 58, 60 extending outwardly from openings32, 34, respectively. Ribs 58, 60 define channels in which nozzles ofhose coupling 16 extend, as will be explained in greater detailhereinafter.

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 4-7, hose coupling 16 is seen to include adome shaped, closed end 62, an open end 64, internal threads 66 (seeFIG. 7) formed in the interior cavity 68 of coupling 16 and extendingupwardly from open end 64, and a pair of nozzles 70, 72 extendingoutwardly from opposing sides of coupling 16 and in fluid communicationwith cavity 68 and adjacent closed end 62. Coupling 16 is pivotallyconnected to body 12 by placing it in recess 26 with nozzles 70, 72extending through openings 32, 34, respectively, and between ribs 58,60, respectively. Hose 18 may be connected to coupling 16 via threads 66and the conventional external threads (not shown) of hose 18. Thus,water passing through hose 18 will exit assembly 10 through nozzles 70,72.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 8-9, hand strap 20 is seen to include opposingends 74, 76 having flanges 78, 80 formed thereon, respectively, and aseries of slotted openings 82, 84 formed through strap 20, adjacent ends74, 76, respectively. Ends 74, 76 extend through openings 28, 30,respectively, and flanges 78, 80 are passed through one of openings 82,84, respectively, (the size of the user's hand would determine which ofthe openings in series 82, 84 are utilized) thereby securelyinterconnecting strap 20 to body 12. To make strap 20 as comfortable aspossible for a user, it is generally V-shaped, thereby accommodatingfour fingers thereunder and without restricting the user's thumb fromextending outside of it.

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 10-11, cloth 14 comprises an outwardly facingsurface 86, an edge region 88 that folds back upon surface 86, and adrawstring 90 stitched loosely within the edge seam 92 of edge region88. Cloth 14 is interconnected to body 12 by placing body 12 thereonsuch that inwardly facing surface 56 is completely covered by surface 86and edge region 88 extends around and encompasses the edges of regions36, 38, 40, and 42. Drawstring 90 may then be pulled taut and tied,thereby securely interconnecting cloth 14 to body 12 (of course, anysuitable fastener, such as an elastic band, zipper, snaps, buttons, orVELCRO®, could work in place of drawstring 90). Cloth 14 is preferablycomposed of a soft (non-scratch), water absorbent material, such assheep's wool or cellulose sponge. It is contemplated that cloth 14 bepermanently affixed to body 12, but the removable connection ispreferred for purposes of versatility.

[0035] Referring once again to FIGS. 12-14, the entire assembly 10 isshown. In use, soap is dispersed on surface 86 and water is passedthrough hose 18 and ultimately through nozzles 70, 72. The water isabsorbed into cloth 12 and produces a soapy mixture on surface 86. Theuser may then wash a car, or other item, in the normal fashion. Whenfinished washing, cloth 14 and hose 18 may be removed from body 12. Ifdesired, a chamois or other drying cloth may then be interconnected tobody 12 and used to dry the car, or other item.

[0036] The foregoing presents the best mode of practicing the presentinvention, but the scope of the present patent should not be limitedthereby, but instead should extend to its full scope and spirit asdefined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wash mit assembly, comprising: a. a body havingan edge and outwardly and inwardly facing surfaces; b. a clothinterconnected to said body in covering relation to said inwardly facingsurface; and c. a hose coupling interconnected to said body.
 2. The washmit assembly of claim 1, further comprising a strap having opposingfirst and second ends and interconnected to said outwardly facingsurface of said body.
 3. The wash mit assembly of claim 2, wherein saidstrap includes a length adjustment mechanism incorporated therein. 4.The wash mit assembly of claim 3, wherein said length adjustmentmechanism comprises first and second pluralities of slotted openingsformed through sais strap, adjacent said first and second ends,respectively, and first and second flanges formed on said first andsecond ends, respectively, whereby, said first and second flanges mayengage any of said first and second pluralities of slotted openings. 5.The wash mit assembly of claim 1, wherein said hose coupling comprisesan open end and a closed end which define an internal cavity, and atleast a first nozzle positioned in fluid communication with saidinternal cavity.
 6. The wash mit assembly of claim 1, wherein said bodyincludes a recess formed therein which extends along a firstlongitudinal axis.
 7. The wash mit assembly of claim 6, wherein saidrecess includes first and second openings formed through opposing sidesthereof.
 8. The wash mit assembly of claim 7, wherein said hose couplingincludes first and second nozzles which extend through said first andsecond openings of said recess, respectively.
 9. The wash mit assemblyof claim 1, wherein said cloth includes an outwardly facing surface andan edge region that folds back upon said outwardly facing surface. 10.The wash mit assembly of claim 9, wherein said edge region of said clothincludes an end seam and a drawstring positioned within said end seam.11. The wash mit assembly of claim 1, wherein said outwardly facingsurface of said body is concave in shape.
 12. The wash mit assembly ofclaim 1, wherein said cloth is composed of wool.
 13. A wash mitassembly, comprising: a. a body having outwardly and inwardly facingsurfaces; and b. a hose coupling interconnected to said body.
 14. Thewash mit assembly of claim 13, wherein said body includes a recessformed in said outwardly facing surface, and first and second openingsformed through opposing sides of said recess.
 15. The wash mit assemblyof claim 14, wherein said hose coupling is positioned within said recessand includes first and second nozzles which extend through said firstand second openings, respectively.
 16. The wash mit assembly of claim13, further comprising a hand strap interconnected to said outwardlyfacing surface of said body.
 17. A wash mit assembly, comprising: a. abody having an edge and outwardly and inwardly facing surfaces; and b. acloth interconnected to said body in covering relation to said inwardlyfacing surface.
 18. The wash mit assembly of claim 17, wherein saidcloth includes an outwardly facing surface and an edge region that foldsback upon said outwardly facing surface.
 19. The wash mit assembly ofclaim 18, wherein said edge region of said cloth includes an end seamand a drawstring positioned within said end seam.
 20. The wash mitassembly of claim 17, wherein said outwardly facing surface of said bodyis concave in shape.